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Despite the spread of covid-19 gaining momentum again in Germany, the football audience is making a comeback. But the image is fragmented.
When Bayern Munich kicked off this year’s league season on Friday by crushing Schalke 04 8-0, 7,500 spectators were expected to be admitted. This corresponds to ten percent of the capacity of the Allianz Arena. But at the last minute, the city of Munich entered and detained the entire public, since the number of infected covid-19 in the area in the last seven days has exceeded 35 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The German federal states have decided that Bundesliga clubs can occupy up to 20 percent of the arena’s capacity if the number of newly infected is just below the value 35.
In Cologne I would 9,200 spectators watched Saturday’s opening game against Hoffenheim, but even there there were empty stands after a late decision. There was therefore no great applause when Sebastian Andersson on his debut scored the 1-1 goal for Cologne and was also behind the 2-2 goal in the match that ended 2-3.
The biggest audience has been in the matches Bremen – Hertha Berlin (1-4) and Stuttgart – Freiburg with around 8,000 spectators.
10,000 spectators will be admitted to Saturday night’s game between Dortmund and Mönchengladbach. There, the tickets have been distributed mainly to those who have Dortmund as their place of residence, to be able to trace any chain of contagion. Supporters must also provide name, address, phone number, and email address.
Some clubs primarily give tickets to season ticket holders who have not demanded their money back for previously lost games. In second place to those with season tickets who demanded the money back.
Fans are encouraged to reach the stadiums by car or on foot and avoid the queues at the sausage stand.
At Eintracht Frankfurt, a detailed description is given to viewers about possible bathroom visits:
“Visitors are instructed not to talk to other seated visitors if they go to the bathroom during the game.”
In Sweden it has The public health authority set a maximum limit of 500 people, no matter how big the arena. In hockey and soccer, you want to be able to attract more viewers than that.
The clubs are now awaiting information from the government on this. A message that, according to the Interior Minister, Mikael Damberg, will arrive “in a very short time.”
In England, Carlisle United in the fourth division became the first to gain an audience when 1,000 spectators in Brunton Park watched the game against Southend.
Carlisle is one of eight clubs in the UK government pilot project to allow a small number of spectators.
Later on Saturday, the Norwich – Preston and Middlesbrough – Bournemouth Championship matches were also watched by 1,000 spectators.
